Mediterranean Squash Food

MEDITERRANEAN SUMMER SQUASH

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute onion in oil until tender. Add squash and zucchini; saute 6-8 minutes longer or until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the remaining ingredients; heat through.

ROASTED STUFFED DELICATA SQUASH

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees F and position a rack in the middle.
• Wash the delicata squash and dry well. To make it easier to slice, place them (whole) in the microwave and warm for 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully remove them from the oven and slice each in half length-wise (use an oven mitten or wait until the squash is cool enough to handle). Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds making a cavity for the filling (discard the seeds or you can clean and roast them for later use).
• Brush the flesh, cleaned side of the delicata squash with olive oil (including the cavity). Season with kosher salt. Mix the ground cinnamon and nutmeg in a small bowl, and season the delicata squash with ½ of this mixture.
• On a large baking sheet, arrange the delicata squash halves, flesh-side down.
• Roast in the heated oven for 25 minutes or until fully cooked and tender. Using a pair of tongs, flip the squash over and return to the oven for just 5 more minutes.
• While the squash is roasting, prepare the filling. First, cook the farro in boiling salted water according to package instructions (mine took 2 cups of boiling water and 20 minutes of cooking time. Farro should absorb the cooking liquid. It is ready when it is tender and somewhat chewy).
• In a large skillet heat 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, cook the shallots, onions and garlic over medium heat, tossing for a bit, until softened (3 to 5 minutes). Season with kosher salt and the remaining nutmeg and cinnamon. Add in the nuts and dried fruit, and cook until warmed through. Add the cooked farro and toss to combine.
• Assemble the stuffed squash. When the squash is ready, transfer the squash halves to a serving platter. Spoon the farro filling into each squash cavity. Serve!

MEDITERRANEAN SPAGHETTI SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place spaghetti squash cut-side down in a baking pan. Pour water around squash.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tender when pierced with a fork, about 45 minutes. Cool until easily handled, 5 to 10 minutes. Scrape out and discard seeds. Scrape flesh into strands with a fork.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken; cook and stir until lightly browned, about 3 minutes per side.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and hot sauce; cook and stir until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in squash strands, artichoke hearts, and red bell pepper. Season with oregano, basil, and thyme.
• Stir chicken and Parmesan cheese into the saucepan. Cover and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until flavors combine, about 5 minutes.

SUMMER SQUASH MEDITERRANEAN STYLE

Steps:

• 1. Cook garlic in a pan with 1 tsp olive oil. It takes about 30 seconds in a hot pan. Do not over brown it. Just cook until it starts to brown. Remove from heat and set aside.
• 2. Add the butter and olive oil to pan. Mix together until melted. Add all vegetables to pan.
• 3. Cook on med. high high heat. Keep stirring constantly folding veggies from bottom to top. After 5 minutes. Add the seasonings. Stir to combine.
• 4. Cook until onions are nicely camelozed and Zucchini is cooked but not mush. Stir in cooked garlic.
• 5. After it is cooked. Add more of the same seasonings if desired. I usually add more salt and basil. Taste it and decide for your self. ( it depends on the size of zucchin used etc. )
• 6. Sprinkle parmesean cheese over vegetable mixture. Stir well to combine. Keep folding veggies on heat. After 3 minutes or so ready to serve.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Arrange the butternut squash and onions in one single layer on a large sheet pan. Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Generously drizzle with extra virgin olive oil (about 3 tbsp) and toss to coat (make sure to spread everything out evenly on the sheet pan). Put the garlic cloves in a small piece of foil and drizzle with olive oil, then fold the foil shut.
• Roast in the heated oven for 30 minutes or until the butternut squash is tender and fully cooked through and charred nicely in some parts.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool just a little bit, then carefully transfer to the bowl of a large food processor fitted with a blade. Add 2 cups of broth (or less, being careful not to fill the processor too much). Close the lid and blend until smooth.
• Transfer the mixture to a large pot and stir in the remaining broth, spices, and 3 tablespoons of tahini paste. Simmer over medium heat, stirring regularly until the soup is fully warmed through (another 10 minutes or so)
• In a small bowl, mix the remaining tahini paste and honey until well combined.
• When ready to serve, transfer the soup to serving bowls and top each bowl with a drizzle of the tahini and honey mixture and a bit of the crushed hazelnuts, if using. Enjoy!

MEDITERRANEAN SQUASH

Steps:

• Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a wide nonstick frying pan or wok over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add half each of the chopped onion, mushrooms, squash and thyme. Stir fry until squash is hot and bright in color (about 3 minutes). Add 1/4 cup water and 1 1/2 tablespoons of the lemon juice to pan; cover and cook until vegetables are just tender to bite (about 3 minutes). Uncover and continue to cook, stirring until liquid has evaporated (about 3 minutes more). Remove vegetables from pan and set aside.
• Repeat to cook remaining chopped onion, mushrooms, squash and thyme, using remaining 1 teaspoon oil; add 1/4 cup water and remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice after the first 3 minutes of cooking.
• Return all cooked vegetables to pan; gently stir in tomatoes. Transfer vegetables to a serving dish; sprinkle with green onions, cheese and olives.